Piano-action



(No Model.)

0. H. KIDD.

PIANO ACTION.

Patented Nov 30,1897.

I I I if v UNITED STATES PATENT Orrien,

CLAUDE H. KIDD, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

PiANO-ACTEON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nou 594,476, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed April 29, 1897.

T0 atZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLAUDE H. KIDD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Clark and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Actions; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to piano-actions of that class known as repeating actions; and it consists, primarily, of a jack having a spring mounted thereon in a specific manner to force the said jack under the hammer and brought into use by the horizontal rail of action formerly used to prevent jacks moving too far.

The invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

, The object of the invention is to simplify the construction and arrangement of actions of the character set forth for use in connection with upright pianos and to render them more sensitive and at the same time positive in response to key-pressure and to dispense with regulators formerly used, so that in what ever position the hammer falls in the horizontal rail causes an extra pressure on the jack whenever it is displaced by the regulating-b u tton through the medium of a fiat spring, and the button and spring replace the jack as soon as the latter is released from the said regulating-button and the hammer from the backcheck by rising of the key and also to cause the jack to be forced under the hammer as soon as the key has started in its upper movement. In devices of this character as heretofore constructed and where a spring was employed the arrangement thereof was not satisfactory, as the said spring interfered with the working of a hammer and prevented the hammer from being securely checked and held the hammer up until the jack was in place thereunder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a piano-action embodying the invention and shown at rest and before the key is struck. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts and the action after the key is struck. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the action, showing the jack re- Serial No. 634,411. (No model.)

leased from the regulating-button and under the hammer, making the said action ready for a repetition when the key is half-way up.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a key of any preferred form of construction and adapted to actuate a rocker 2. The said rocker 2 is movably attached to a rail 3 and has seated thereon a coiled spring 4. The said rocker may also have attached thereto an ordinary form of spoon or tongue to operate a damper through the medium of a suitable damper-lever. Fulcrumed on the said rocker is a jack 5, having a heel 6 engaging the spring 4. On the upper portion of the outer edge of the said jack is secured at one end a flat spring '7, which is bowed and lipped at its free end and is adapted to engage a felt buffer 8 on the said jack for a well-known purpose. On a suitable sup port 9, carried by the rail 3, is a regulatingbutton 10, and in rear of the regulatingbutton is the ordinary form of back-stop 11. Extending transversely of the action and in position to engage the spring 7 is a horizontal rail 12, which brings the spring 7 into use. On the upper part of the rail 3 a knuckle 13 of a hammer 1a is pivotally mounted, and extending outwardly from the said knuckle is a bumper 15, a bridle 16 being connected to the knuckle 13 and extending over the rail 12 and supported at the rear for well-known purposes.

As shown by Fig. 1 the action is at rest, but by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that after the key is struck and held down the spring 7 is depressed by contact with the rail 12, caused by the movement of the jack 5. After having been displaced from under the hammerknuckle by the regulating-b utton 10 coming in contact with the heel (5, and, as shown by Fig. 2, as soon as the jack is released from the regulating-button by a partial rising of the key, the spring 7 again forces the jack under the hammer, making the action ready for repeti- It is obviously apparent that many minor changes in the details of construction might be made and substituted for those shown and described without in the least departing from 5 the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is In a piano-action, the combination of a ham- 1116i having a knuckle, a jack With a spring IO on the outer side of the upper portion thereof,

a rail to engage the said spring, and a button adapted to coact With the jack, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CLAUDE H. KIDD.

itnesses:

A. O. GULZIET, ELLIs O. KIDD. 

